- Global cassava prices witnessed mixed-to-firm movements during Q1’26 as steady Asian demand and logistics disruptions offset ample regional supply conditions.
- Feedstock availability remained relatively stable in Southeast Asia, although freight inflation and shipping uncertainty linked to the Iran war increased export costs.
- Downstream demand from starch, animal feed, ethanol, and food processing sectors stayed moderate, while cautious Chinese procurement limited sharper price gains.
Global cassava markets remained supported during Q1’26 amid shifting trade flows and rising logistics costs. In Asia, Thailand continued to dominate exports, supported by strong demand from China’s feed and starch industries. Thailand’s cassava exports in 2025 reportedly surpassed 8.25 million tons, rising by 26.53% year-on-year, while pre-orders for 2026 exceeded 2.46 million tons, reflecting sustained regional demand. Vietnam’s Q1’26 cassava and cassava product exports reached nearly 1.34 million tons, with China accounting for around 93% of export value, highlighting continued dependence on Chinese industrial consumption. However, weaker starch demand and substitution toward cheaper feed grains initially pressured sentiment early in the quarter. Later, geopolitical tensions surrounding the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz disruptions increased bunker fuel, freight, and marine insurance costs, tightening cargo movement across Asian agricultural trade routes and supporting prices. Demand from food additives, ethanol, paper, and feed industries remained stable but highly price-sensitive, limiting aggressive procurement activity despite elevated logistics expenses.